Australian films reach five per cent of national box office revenue

Australian films took a 5.02 percent share at the local box office in 2009 ($54.8m), up on the five-year average of 4 percent and the best since 2001 (7.8 percent), according to an analysis by Screen Australia.

The box office results represent an increase of 1.4 million admissions, for a total of 4.6m.

Screen Australia’s analysis of Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (MPDAA) data revealed that the 50 Australian films released during 2009 was the highest number  in more than 25 years.

Only five of those had releases wider than 100 prints; the rest were limited (up to 20 prints) and specialty release strategies (up to 100) and made up 17.8 and 13.3 percent of the box office respectively in their corresponding release categories.